Ten years after the passing of his father, legendary singer-songwriter Leonard Cohen, Adam Cohen continues to feel his father’s presence in various aspects of his life. The 54-year-old artist, who has inherited both his father's body type and voice, frequently catches a glimpse of his father in the mirror. He expresses, “I happen to have inherited his body type and his voice, and when I catch a glimpse of myself in the mirror, I see him.”
The world around him serves as a constant reminder of his father's legacy. Adam hears his father’s music playing in public spaces like taxis and restaurants, and encounters buskers performing Leonard’s songs on the streets. He notes, “I don’t know that there’s been a single day that I haven’t thought of him and that the world hasn’t provoked me to do it.”
In an effort to honor his father’s memory, Adam is organizing a concert titled “Everybody Knows Leonard Cohen: The Official 10th Anniversary Concert Celebration.” This family-led tribute is set to take place in Canadian venues this month, followed by a European tour in early 2027. The concert is designed to celebrate Leonard’s rich musical contributions and will feature performances alongside archival footage. Notable artists such as Feist, Rufus Wainwright, and Serena Ryder are confirmed to join the tribute event at Toronto's Meridian Hall on November 7, exactly a decade following Leonard Cohen’s death.
Adam Cohen, accompanied by his 19-year-old son Cassius, has been delving into Leonard’s music at their family home in Montreal, viewing it as a profound way to reconnect with the late artist. “Just playing his songs and really studying them word for word, chord for chord is the closest thing to the grief that I remember of having lost him,” Adam reflects during an interview from their kitchen, which has hosted countless family meals.
The initiative also addresses a more immediate concern regarding Cassius, who dropped out of college last summer with aspirations to pursue a music career. In a bid to channel his son’s passion into productive work, Adam hired Cassius as his bass player for upcoming performances in Germany and Greece. Adam asserts, “If he’s not going to go to college, then he should be working with the same appetite and rigour that school was expecting of him, but in music.” Hearing his son perform Leonard’s songs evokes memories of their family gatherings, eliciting a sense of beauty and emotional resonance.
Throughout his career, Adam Cohen has sought validation through music, understanding his father’s desire for him to achieve something greater in society. Leonard often humorously expressed wishes for Adam to become the Prime Minister of Canada, dismissing the music industry as a “racket” and a “cesspool.” Adam recalls, “There was a kind of disappointment that I’d followed in his footsteps,” yet producing Leonard’s final album, “You Want It Darker,” became a significant opportunity for Adam to showcase his own artistry to his father.
As Adam reflects on his father’s musical catalog, he recognizes the careful craftsmanship behind every element of Leonard’s work. He emphasizes the enduring nature of Leonard Cohen’s art, stating, “His work lasts because it’s imbued with a kind of devotional labour. It aims for a kind of excellence that is a triumph over planned obsolescence.”
The forthcoming tribute aims to encapsulate Leonard Cohen's essence, allowing audiences to remember the qualities they cherished about him. Adam emphasizes that it’s less about unearthing unknown facets of his father and more about celebrating the remarkable person he was. “We’ll do our best to capture the entirety of the man,” Adam concludes, highlighting the elegance and generosity that characterized Leonard's presence. Despite the aura of coolness surrounding his father, Adam has no anecdotes to suggest any inconsistency in Leonard’s character, noting that even lighthearted moments were delivered with a style that was uniquely his.
